Wheel for vehicles.



No. 674,720. Patented May 2|, l90l.

H. J. WRIGHT.

WHE-EL FOR VEHICLES.

(Application filed Mar. 15, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

No. 674,720. Patented May 2|, |90L a. .s. wmenr.

WHEEL FOR VEHICLES.

(Applieafiun filed Mar. 15, 1901.1

(No Model.) 2 Sheets$hoet 2.

Fig. 2

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PATENT Fries.

HARVEY JAMES WRIGHT, OF CAPE TOWN, CAPE COLONY.

WHEEL FOR VEHICLES.

SfPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 674,720, dated May 21,1901. Application filed March 15, 1901. Serial No- 51, 293. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that LHARVEY JAMES WRIGHT, a subject of the King of England,and a resident of Cape Town, Cape Colony, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in l/Vheels for Vehicles, of which the following isa specification.

As the title of my invention indicates, it has reference to improvementsin wheels for vehicles.

My invention will be more easily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is an elevation of the wheel. Fig. 2 is a sectional View of thewheel in its vertical position and shows also a sectional elevation ofthe hub and its attachments. Fig. 3 is a plan of the cylinder with afixed disk or plate and forms one part of the hub. Fig. 4 is a plan ofthe disk or plate which forms the other part of the hub. Fig. 5 is asection of triangular iron hereinafter referred to.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, A is the rim of the wheel and is made ofT-iron. Aa is the flange of the T. B is the tire. 0 represents thespokes, placed in two rows, one on either side of the hub and convergingtoward the rim, where they are received in sockets D. Ea is thecylinder. H is a disk or plate and is bored to become a sliding fit onthe cylinder. GH represents projections to give side support to thespokes. K is the hole for the bearing. J represents the boltshereinafter described.

Referring to Fig. 2, (see reference to Fig. 1 from A to D,) E is thedisk or plate fixed to the cylinder. Ea is the cylinder. F representsthe sockets in which the ends of the spokes are placed. 6} representsprojections from E to give side support to the spokes. E and Ea form asectional elevation of Fig. 3. H (as described under Fig. 1) has socketsFH and projections GH exactly similar to E. H is a sectional elevationof Fig. 4. J represents the bolts (three in number) of the variety knownas hook-bolts and pass through the hub from plate to plate parallel tothe cylinder. They are partly embedded in the cylinder, and the portionspassing between plate H and the cylinder are also-partly embedded inplate H. J a represents the nuts and are of the variety generally knownas nipples. K is the hole for the bearing.

Referring to Fig. 3, E is the plate, showing the sockets F to receivethe spokes and the projections G for side support. Ea is the cylinder. Kis the hole for the bearing. Jc rep-- resents the beds for the bolts.Jae represents the holes for the nipples.

Referring to Fig. i, H is the plate, showing the sockets FH and theprojections Gl-I exactlysimilar to E, Fig. 3. L is the hole throughwhich the cylinder passes. JH represents the beds for the bolts.

Referring to Fig. 5, this is a section of triangle iron and is used toform a rim for the wheel should it be preferred to T-iron. D representsthe sockets to receive the spokes.

To further illustrate the principle of my invention and the way it isput into operation, reference is made to the hub. This consists of acylinder of metal through which the longitudinal hole K, Figs. 1, 2, and3, passes to form the bearing. At one end of the cylinder is a plateaffixed and at the other end a plate detached. (See E and H, Figs. 1, 2,3, and 4.) In the plates are sockets to receive the ends of the spokes.Bolts pass through from one plate to the other, by means of which theplate H can be moved backward or forward on the cylinder. The object ofthis is to tighten the wheel (which through wear and tear has becomeloose) without having to resort to the old method of shortening thetire. This is effected by reducing the distance between the two rows ofspokes at the hub by means of the bolts drawing the sliding plate H,which carries one row of spokes, closer to the fixed plate E, whichcarries the other 'row. As the spokes then require more diametricalroom, they are forced firmly into the sockets both at the rim and thehub. The spokes of the wheel are made of wood and cannot be limited asto number or shape. The rim of the Wheel is made of iron in the form ofwhat is known as T-iron. On the flange of the T Aa, Figs. 1 and 2, whichis placed on the inside of the rim, and from alternate sides sockets arepunched to receive the ends of the spokes, as shown at D, Figs. 1 and 2.I do not limit myself to the particular form of T-iron; but I claim alsothe use of iron in a triangular shape, as shown in Fig. 5, in whichsockets D are wrought, cut, or cast to receive the ends of the spokes.

I do notclaim for the Wheel any special bearing or method of attachmentto the vehicle. It can be adapted to any hearing or method of attachmentin common use. I claim that my invention is novel and has greatadvantages over wheels at present in use, because that by reason of thetwo rows of spokes it has immeasurably greater strength, that beingstronger it can be made relatively lighter and is consequently easier ofdraft, and that when the wheel has become loose from shrinkage of thespokes and general Wear and tear it can be tightened in a few minutes byscrewing up the bolts, as hereinbefore explained, thus obviating thenecessity of cutting or shortening the tire. This can be done with theaid of a spanner at any and all times. Should the Wood swell throughsoakage of Water and the pressure become too great it can be immediatelyrelieved by unscrewing the bolts. Should a spoke break it can bereplaced at once by the most inexperienced hand. The outward pressure ofthe spokes into the rim from either side prevents warping of the rim.The load is distributed through a larger number of spokes at any givenpoint in a revolution than is the case with Wheels at present in use.Skidding or side strain on uneven ground takes little As the spokes arenot held or no efiect on it.

other than by pressure from either end, it is impossible for them toreceive any cross strain. The Wheel can be taken apart and packed fortransport or for storage and requires neither a practical hand norspecial appliances for resetting the same. The iron rim with flangesdoes away with the Wooden rim or fellies of ordinary Wheels and takesupon itself the duty of holding the wheel together, which is performedby the tire of wheels at present in use. As the tire is used only topresent a Wearing-surface, it can be made much lighter and can be useduntil it is completely worn through.

I claim A vehicle-wheel comprising a metallic rim having a plurality ofspoke-sockets, a cylindricalhul) or sleeve, a collar movably mounted onone end of the sleeve and having a plurality of spoke-sockets, a secondcollar on the other end of said sleeveand abutting against a shoulderthereon, spokes having their outer ends seated in the sockets in therim' and their inner ends in the sockets in said collar, and bolts fordrawing said collars toward each other to tighten the spokes,substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

HARVEY JAMES WRIGHT.

Witnesses:

CHARLES FREDERICK STROEDER, JOHN HENRY ERNEST WAGNER.

